Students at Longwood University may know Grant Avent, or at least have seen his familiar face around the dining hall, Java City, or any of the other dining locations on campus.
Avent came to Farmville 12 years ago, for a job interview at Longwood, even though he was happy working for Aramark at Winthrop University in South Carolina.
“I really wasn’t interested,” Grant chuckled as he recounted the story. “And I really couldn’t believe driving back that I was actually considering moving to Farmville.”
Nevertheless, Avent said he started working at Longwood soon after that visit.
Today, he is the general manager of Longwood Dining Services.
His office is small but centrally located in the bottom of Dorrill Dining Hall. Within the space are small knick-knacks and mementos that display the pride and love Avent has for the university.
Two Longwood scarfs hang of the wall, above a framed sketch of Ruffner Hall. The bookshelves are scattered with Longwood memorabilia, including a small Ellwood figurine.
After majoring in travel industry management at Concord University and working in restaurants and hotels for a few years after graduation, a younger Avent discovered college food service was his niche.
As Aramark’s general manager for Longwood, Avent is in charge of what happens in the dining hall, catered events and all retail operations, including Moe’s, Chick-fil-a and Java City.
More than anything, Avent emphasized the main focus of his job is to reinforce that dining services are “here for the students, and (that) customer service is the most important thing that we do.”
Avent takes great pride in his job, especially in the traditions the dining services have contributed to Longwood’s culture.
“I love the things that we do, of course. The Thanksgiving dinner, the Birthday dinners, the Holiday concert,” said Avent.
Avent doesn’t live too far from campus and said when he’s not at work, he enjoys many of the other natural amenities the town has to offer.
“It takes me about ten minutes to put my kayak on my car and to be at Sandy River or Wilkes Lake. You can’t do that in big cities,” said Avent.
He also enjoys bicycles in the morning through down High Bridge Trail before work.
He said he was excited about all of the changes that Dining Services has undergone and plan to do. Avent said changing their menus and returning the pasta bar to the dining hall after 10 years were some of his favorite changes.
He said an expansion in Moe’s will happen not too long from now.
“The other thing that I’m really excited about, further down the road,” said Avent. “After we get the Upchurch center open, the next focus will be completely redoing the dining hall.”
Grant Avent, the general manager of Longwood Dining Services, has worked at Longwood for 12 years, and he said he's excited for the office to continue to evolve.
